LPD enlists new K-9 for narcotic seizures

Monday

Mar 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The Lexington Police Department has a new dog to take a bite out of crime.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

The Lexington Police Department has a new dog to take a bite out of crime.K-9 Astro was placed into service March 11 after the Lexington City Council decided to purchase the 18-month-old Shepherd Malinois for $9,500. He replaces 9-year-old Kiara, purchased in 2007 as a narcotics-only dog and retired recently due to medical reasons and age.Astro, purchased with drug forfeiture funds only, is pretrained and comes from Southern Police Canine in Nash County. The LPD handler (who police requested not be identified) assigned to Astro traveled to Nash County to acquire training for the dog."Hopefully, (Astro) will be very successful as we have been in the past with previous K-9s," LPD Maj. Mark Sink said.Like its predecessor, Astro is trained in narcotics only. The goal for the K-9 is to locate and seize as many drugs as possible, Sink said."They are very crucial," the major said of K-9s. "They are important. They can help you with your success in making cases and locating illegal narcotics."Astro is the LPD's lone K-9. Sink, who was a K-9 handler in Lexington from 1992-97, said the LPD has had as many as five dogs at one time. The decline of K-9s in the force is attributed to dogs aging out and handlers moving on or retiring from the LPD."We are hoping to rebuild this program as funds allow," the major said. "We do pay for our K-9s with all drug forfeiture funds; no tax dollars involved."LPD Lt. Chris Leonard said Astro will be assigned to the department's Interdiction Team. However, it can be used by any of the LPD's officers with assistance in locating narcotics."Hopefully, it's going to be a great asset to us like the last K-9 we had," Leonard said. "… I expect he will be a great asset in locating narcotics on the highway as well as other locations we may need. It is our hope we can get more dogs in the future for patrol to help with that, with tracking and other things."Astro also will assist other agencies as the LPD has mutual aid agreements in place.Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.